Student Name: Long Tran
Case Title: Mount Everest – 1996
Who?
Name
Rob Hall
Scott Fischer
Andy Harris
Anatoli Boukreev
Jon Krakauer
Doug Hansen
Beck Weathers
Yasuko Namba
Sandy Hill Pittman
Lopsang Jangbu
Position
Leader of Adventure Consultants
Leader of Mountain Madness
Guide of Adventure Consultants
Guide of Mountain Madness
Journalist of Outside Magazine
Client of Adventure Consultants
Client of Adventure Consultants
Client of Adventure Consultants
Client of Mountain Madness
Lead Sherpa of Mountain Madness
Issues
What?
In Spring 1996, there was trend of conquering Summit of Mount Everest. Leaders of
Adventure Consultants organized a group of climbers to climb Mount Everest. There were
essential human errors such as disobey turnaround time, poor decision making,
underestimate weather, logistical issues, overconfidence in health and experience of the
climbers, and lack of communication which leading to the death of guides and climbers.
Why?
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Trend of conquering Mount Everest attracted more inexperienced climbers and created a
business opportunity for experienced climber like Rob Hall and Scott Fischer on this
demand. The climbers paid a high fee which also created pressures to climber and
guides to push themselves over limit even in the unsafe situations.
The journey leaders underestimate the weather risk, and they believed in their
experience in the weather pattern. They failed to estimate the risk of potential sudden
storm and left their teams in the life risk condition.
The journeys leader also failed to establish the backup plan for critical situations and
obey the turnaround time which they planned. They did not purchase enough oxygen
supplemental oxygen and radio for both climbers and guides, which caused their
deteriorating physical condition and lack of communication during the journey
The journey leaders were overconfident in their climbing experience and preparedness
for the clients who were mostly had no high altitude assault experience. Journey to the
summit demanded heavily physical and mental for both climbers and guides, but the
desire to reach the top of the world affected their safety decisions.
When?
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In April 1996, climber and guides of both Adventure Consultants and Mountain Madness
gathered in the Base Camp for staring training and acclimate their physical to high
altitudes at Mount Everest.
On May 6th 1996: they began their journey to the summit of Mount Everest.
On May 10th 1996: they reached the summit, but there were delays during the journey
from Camp IV to the summit due to no rope were affixed on the route. The shortage of
communication radio also caused the delay due to the front group could not
communicate with the back group for ensuring they all on the same route and arrived the
top on time. The delay caused some remain on top far past the turnaround time for
descent. Some climbers descended right after reaching the summit backed to Camp IV
successfully.
Late Afternoon and Evening: There was a sudden storm which was trapping the remain
climbers on the route of descent.
On the late night of May 10th and morning of May 11th 1996, the survivors attempted to
rescue the remains on the descent route, but several climbers including Rob Hall and
Scott Fischer perished.
Case Difficulty Cube
How?
Analytical
The main task is to evaluate
the failure of decision
making especially are
disobey the turnaround
time, mismanagement the
inexperienced climbers,
leadership misjudgments,
and the natural
environment. There is also a
critical factor in this analysis
which is trending pressure
affects the safety protocol.
Conceptual
- This case shows the
failure of risk
management. The leaders
underestimated the risk of
weather change, client’s
health and experience.
- Failure of planning
management: The leaders
failed to obey the
turnaround time,
allocation journeys
resources (supplemental
oxygen, radio),
communication, and plans
for unexpected critical
situations.
- Decision making under
pressure: the leaders
made poor decision due
the huge profit from
demanding conquering
the Mount Everest. The
high altitude environment
also affect physical and
mental condition which
Presentation
This case shows multiple
factors which need to be
considered when analyzing:
- Leadership decision
- Management
- Natural environment
can impair the judgment
in critical situations.
,